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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: =?UTF-8?Q?D=C3=A9borah_Bernard?= <officecontact@voila.fr>
Reply-To: =?UTF-8?Q?D=C3=A9borah_Bernard?= <officecontact@terra.com.pe>
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 05:52:29 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Your Letter:
 Kindly forgive me for sending you this mail unannounced.Â
I am Madam Deborah Bernard from Liberia but presently in Cote D'Ivoire West Africa and my husband died of Ebola virus disease. Â
My Late husband was dealer of Gold and Diamond in Liberia. Am here in West Africa because of two things. 1) I run out of my country because of the Ebola virus disease that is still killing people there. 2) My husband deposited the sum $6.5 Million US Dollars and some Gold with a local Bank here in Cote D'Ivoire West Africa.Â
I went to the bank with all the Necessary Documents to claim this money but the bank said that they can't transfer this money to me without the help of my late husband foreign partner and that the money must be transfer to an offshore account, i mean my husband deposited this money in favor of his foreign partner but he did not mention his name..Â
Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital where i have been undergoing treatment and i want you to play the role of my late husband's foreign partner so that the Bank will release this money to you, i shall be coming to your country for any good investment and also give you 20% from the money. Â
If you find this letter offensive, please ignore it and accept my apologies.Â
RegardsÂ
Madam Déborah Bernard
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Anti-fraud resources:
